Did you know we now have 3 more choices for our Saleabration freebies?  You can see them featured on the projects above. 

Here's a closer look.  We've got some sparkly glitter tape.  You get 3 rolls - gold, silver and white - and I hear it is a lovely way to add some sparkle to your projects without the mess.  I can't wait for mine to arrive. 

Or perhaps you'd like this balloon set with a bunch of useful greetings. 

Or for those who love bikes - how about this one?  It is called Pedal Pusher. 

Or check out the other Saleabration choices here.   Saleabration Flyer

Not sure how to add your freebie to an online order?  Here's some tips.

Sign in to your account and pop your products into your shopping cart.  Once the product total reaches $90, look out for the message in the Special Offers box at the bottom that says "Congratulations: You qualify for 1 or more free Sale-A-Bration products."  (Indicated with the first arrow in the pic below.)

News!  Starting in March I'll be setting up a monthly host code.  Enter the host code when you place your online order to receive a little something in the mail.  More details in my latest newsletter.  (Just putting it together now so keep an eye on your inbox.)  You enter the code in the spot at the bottom indicated by the second arrow.

But wait!  If your order is more than $250 then DON'T use the monthly hostess code.  You'll qualify for at least 10% of stampin rewards by yourself. 

Back to Saleabration - once you click that Congratulations message (the Click Here bit) you'll get a pop up box with all your Saleabration options.  Use the drop down box to make your selections.  (You get one for each $90 you spend.)

Saleabration finishes at the end of March.

Here are some more projects from Stampin' Up with the new Saleabration choices.

Love that balloon card.  If you love balloons, keep an eye back here on the blog this week - I've got a bunch of balloon cards to share. 

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Keen to get creative this month and looking for a fun, relaxed card making class in Melbourne's west?

I've got a few spots left tonight and next Friday (26th Feb) if you'd like to catch a class this month.  Phone, text or email to book.

We'll be making 4 projects this month - 3 regular sized cards plus a gorgeous little gift card.  (Some sneak peeks here.)

Class fee is $25.  All materials supplied.

TONIGHT  Wednesday 17th Feb:  7.30 - 9.30pm    

5 spaces left

Friday 19th Feb: 10am - 12        

Booked Out   (Ask to go on the waiting list)

Wednesday 24th Feb: 7.30 - 9.30pm    

2 spaces left

Thursday 25th Feb: 7.30 - 9.30pm  

Booked Out    (Ask to go on the waiting list)

Friday 26th Feb: 10am - 12    

6 spaces left

Have a fabulous week!  Cheers, Sue

# Bottom right card inspired by the fabulous Mary Fish.  Time to give the aquapainter and the Wink Of Stella pens a workout.

 Time for an almighty "Yes, it is Friday" at our place and also time for the next Think Ink Team Tidbits post where we meet one of the Think Ink crew. 

Today we're celebrating the talented Tina Gillespie who blogs over at Scissors Paper Card.   (Click here to visit Tina's blog.)

 Tina is also a design team member at the challenge site Just Add Ink. 

The Just Add Ink Design Team enjoy getting creative and inspiring others with versatile paper craft challenges.  They post a new challenge every Friday.  Click here to pay a visit.

Here are just two of Tina's recent gorgeous creations. 

This one is for the latest Just Add Ink 'just add V' challenge.  Link: Details on this card. 

Isn't it striking.  I love the buttons and bow tie.

And I just LOVED this one too.  What a gorgeous background.  Link: Details on this card

Interested in memory keeping? 

Keen to head along to some classes? (Tina is in Adelaide, South Australia.)

Tina is running regular Project Life classes this year.  You can find the upcoming dates and all the details here.

Tina also runs regular Open House Scrapbooking sessions.  All the dates and details for those are right here. 

What a great way to get some of those everyday moments recorded. 

I hope you enjoyed visiting with Tina from Scissors Paper Card, another of the creative team members from Think Ink.

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

One of the stamp sets I loved when our annual catalogue came out last year was No Bones About It.  Such a cute dinosaur set for all the dinosaur lovers among your friends and family. 

Inspired by this card by Alison from Gothdove designs.

Tips and Techniques:  I've used 3 strips of washi tape for a quick and easy border.  Don't look too closely as it appears I didn't stick it down too well at the top!  The little footprint stamp makes a great border feature too. 

While I had my dinosaurs out making a card for my young nephew I also had to make a card for my not so young brother.  (10 years younger than me.)  I thought I'd use the same set (because I was a little too lazy to go walk over and grab another one!) 

Tips and Techniques:  I used the now retired brushed gold metallic cardstock for the base and a swag of assorted small greetings.  I'm pretty sure I used Staz On ink.  Inside I used a Stampin' Write marker to ink up the greeting and omitted a word so I could adapt it to my own sense of humour.

Dinosaurs - handy for little (and not so little) peoples.  ;-)

Here's some more creative ideas from Stampin' Up.

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

This is a rather grainy pic but I love this simple card.  Great for using up some smaller pieces of patterned paper (or an idea if you have some little sample packs.) 

Tips and Techniques: Use square punches or framelits to cut your trio of squares.  This paper is from Wildflower Fields DSP - free during Saleabration with a $90 order. Love these floating dandelions.  Looks striking with a frame of black.  I've used Tombow glue to attach the wooden greeting.  (Find them here: Expressions Natural Elements).  Hard to see in the pic but since it was quite a plain design, I added 2 lines of scoring using my Score Board.  A nice way to add a simple little extra something.  I've used the thicker white cardstock for my card base. 

My daughter Hannah loves to create and send cards too.  She put this one together for her grandparents as a thank you. 

Here's some other thank you card ideas from Stampin' Up.

Got anyone to thank during February?  Thank you cards are handy to have a little stash of aren't they. 

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

February Card Classes:

Are you keen to get stuck into some card making? Like to make some cards and have a little me-time? 

February is here which means it is time to start new classes for 2016. Classes are held at my house in Avondale Heights, in Melbourne's west.

We'll be using some of the gorgeous new stamps and tools in the Occasions and Saleabration range to make 3 cards with coordinating envelopes. 

Learn some stamping techniques, try out some new craft items and have fun with a table of craft loving ladies.  A great way to get some creative time into your 2016.

Class fee is $25.  All materials supplied.

There are 5 dates to choose from this month.  Phone or email to grab a place in the date that suits you. 

Wednesday 17th Feb:  7.30 - 9.30pm     5 spaces left

Friday 19th Feb: 10am - 12         6 spaces left

Wednesday 24th Feb: 7.30 - 9.30pm     8 spaces left

Thursday 25th Feb: 7.30 - 9.30pm   3 spaces left

Friday 26th Feb: 10am - 12     8 spaces left

General Class Information

WHERE: 

I hold classes at my house in Avondale Heights, Melbourne.    Classes are held at my dining table.  Friendly and fun - all welcome. 

HOW DO I FIND OUT DATES?

I often publish the class dates and details in my newsletter first* so make sure you subscribe to that (there's a sign up box up at the top right there) if you're keen to catch a class.  (* Except for this month when we're flat chat with back to school and work and so I'm posting them here on the blog first.) 

HOW MANY PEOPLE AT A CLASS?

There's a maximum of 8 people per class and dates do book out, so it is a good idea to book early.   If a class you're interested in is booked out, please ask to go on the waiting list in case of cancellations.

SUITABLE FOR?

Classes are suitable for beginners and experienced stampers and card makers.  I aim to keep things friendly, fun and relaxed.

WHAT DO I BRING?

Just bring yourself and your class fee.  All tools and materials are supplied.

CLASS FEE:

Class fee is $25 (unless otherwise specified.)  Payable at the class.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

If you cannot make a class you've booked for, please let me know as soon as possible so that someone else can possibly take your place at the table. 

ARRIVAL TIME FOR CLASSES:

** Note: With after school activities for the kids we're often squeezing in dinner just before class.  Please aim to arrive around 7.25pm for evening classes as before that we'll be running around like headless chooks  getting home and organised.  Much appreciated! 

Hope to see you at a class.  It is a great way to try some new products and techniques, meet some friendly crafters and build up a stash of cards.

Cheers,
Sue

I really love creating with this stamp set: Botanicals For You.  (Free with a $90 order during Saleabration.)  It has this gorgeous big greeting 'Just For You' with a few extra additions.  I particularly like ' ... because you're awesome.'   It also has 3 very cute, simple flowers and 2 leafy bits.  If you are stuck on how to get started, do what I did and copy the card in the Saleabration brochure.  A fun one layer project.

Tips and Techniques: The pastel candy dots are just perfect for the flower centres if you'd like to add a little extra something. Pearls look nice too.  If you happen to get a little less than perfect ink coverage when you stamp your big greeting - you can use a black Stampin' Write marker to fill in any gaps.  (Or try any black texta.) 

Colours:  I did the flowers in Watermelon Wonder, Hello Honey and Soft Sky.  Mossy Meadow for the greenery. 

Or use it for a gift bag - loved this idea from Stampin' Up with some beautiful gold embossing.  The tiny bit of doily is a great addition too.

I love "just for you" cards.  Great to pop in the post to tell someone you're thinking of them.  Isn't it so lovely to get handcrafted things in the mail. 

Random Ramblings:  I got a little handcrafted something in the mail last month.  Each year I pick a One Little Word to be a theme for the year.  Loved the year I chose simplify - that really spoke to me all year.  The last few years my word has faded quite quickly from my thoughts once Feb or March rolled around.  This year I chose ENERGY.  Works well with my health focus for this year - endeavouring to be eating more of the more nutritious and tasty foods and less of the less nutritious and very processed foods, plus working on moving more.  And a nice word to explore in terms of the energy I'm bringing to particular goals and priorities, and even to relationships.  Anyway - I wanted a way to keep my word in mind during the year so ordered a personalised necklace with the word on it.  Love how it turned out.  (This is a bit of a blurry pic but you get the idea.)

I got it from an Etsy store: Inspired By Cal.   Here's the link for anyone interested:  Inspired By Cal

Anyone else got a 'One Little Word' for 2016?  Hope your year is off to a fabulous start. 

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

A quick little handy hint for you today.  Do you ever struggle to get a wood mounted stamp set back into its case?  I know I have had a few arm wrestles with those blocks - feeling a bit like I was doing a tricky jigsaw or a Tetris puzzle. 

Now if I open a new wood mounted stamp set and it looks quite full, I quickly grab my phone and snap a pic before unpacking and mounting the stamps.  I make sure to get a little of the sticker so I can see which set it is.  Then I can refer back to the pic if I'm having a bit of a spatial stamp packing challenge. 

If I'm feeling super organised I take another pic once I've mounted the stamps and put all the stickers on. 

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue